In the main event on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, tough Brian Vera (22-6, 13 KOs) stopped 36-year-old Serhiy Dzinziruk (37-2-1, 24 KOs) in round 10 at the Turning Point Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.

In round one, Dzinziruk, a southpaw and former WBO junior middleweight titleholder, hit the canvas from a light blow to the body. Dzinziruk was up quickly and appeared unhurt. A few seconds later Vera landed a strong left hook that put Dzinziruk down on the seat of his pants. There was no doubt about the second knockdown. The Ukrainian was up at six but woozy.. He managed to make it to the end of the round.

Vera came out like Jack Dempsey in round two. Bobbing and weaving and throwing punches, a combination stunned Dzinziruk. Vera set-up his onslaught with a heavy jab that couldn’t miss. Dzinziruk jabbed but still looked stunned.

In round three, Dzinziruk used his legs and boxed. Vera continued to find pay dirt with his right. Dzinziruk landed an inside uppercut to the chin of Vera.

Dzinziruk caught another right in the beginning of round four. Vera, who upset Andy Lee in 2008, stalked and walked into a heavy right hook. Dzinziruk worked off his jab well in the stanza.

Vera came out with his hands a little higher in round five. He backed Dzinziruk into the ropes and landed a left and right to the head. Dzinziruk landed a clean hook to the body. Vera did some good work on the ropes a the end of the round.

In round six, Vera upped his intensity. His punches came in bunches. Dzinziruk was on his toes, but the physically stronger Vera pushed him around. Dzinziruk’s jab was still his most effective punch. Vera went back to the body in round seven. Dzinziruk connected with a straight left that knocked Vera off balance. Vera opened up at the end of the round to steal it.

This writer had Vera leading by three rounds heading into round eight. Vera jumped on Dzinziruk. He punished the older fighter on the ropes. A cut near the left eye of Vera worsened as the round went on. Dzinzuruk fought back gallantly in the last minute of the round. Dzinzuruk connected with a whistling left hand in round nine. His right clipped the chin of Vera who seemed a little winded.

In round 10, Vera attacked with his strong jab. Dzinzuruk landed a straight left. Vera countered with a big right sending Dzinruruk into the ropes. A wicked right followed by a dozen punches put Dzinruruk down for the third time. After Dzinruruk pulled himself up, referee Benjy Esteves Jr. waved off the contest a few seconds later.

The time was 1:50 of the 10th round.

Last minute replacement Jose Hernandez (14-6-1, 6 KOs) upset previously undefeated Tony Luis (15-1, 7 KOs) in round eight of a scheduled 10-round affair. Hernandez landed a straight right hand that put Luis down in in the eighth round. The Canadian pulled himself up, but was soon pushed into the ropes and catching huge right hands.